Removable firing-pin for ordnance.



1. LUND. OVABLE HRING PIN FOR QRDNANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, i916- Patented Jan. 7,1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.ioHN LUND, 0F BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, 'AssIGNoE To BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, or soon; BETHLEHEM, PENNsYLvANIA,A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 7, 1919.

Application filed May 3, 1916. Serial No. 95,125.

b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN LUND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethlehem, Northampton county, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Removable Firing-Pins for Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to firing pins for ordnance and has for its object to provide a device of this class in which the firing pin point is made separable from the body of the firing pin so that it may be readily removed and replaced when worn or broken, without discarding the entire firing pin.

The invention will be fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the breech-block of a gun showing a portion of the barrel and firing mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the firing pin partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a portion of the rear end of the gun. The breech-block 12 is mounted in the usual manner on the carrier 13. Within the block carrier is located the firing lock case 15, which is removablv secured therein by Well known means, and the firing lock case contains the firing pin proper, which comprises a cylindrical body 16 having thereon a collar 17, and which is actuated by the spring 18 in the usual manner. The mechanism for operating the firing pin forms no part of the present invention and a detailed description of it will not be necessary.

The firing lock case is open at its forward end and a circular opening 19 is provided in the breech-block carrier, through which the firing pin is adapted to be projected in a forward direction by the spring 18, in the firing of the gun, to contact with the primer of the projectile charge. The usual vent bushing 20 is screw-threaded into the front of the breech-block.

The firing pin comprises three portions, the body 16, a pin point 22 and a sleeve 23, which is adapted to detachably secure the pin point in the body. The forward end of the body portion has an internally threaded socket 24;, into which the externally threaded rearward portion of the sleeve 23 is secured. The sleeve is provided with a longitudinal tapering opening 25 extending therethrough, the larger end of the opening being at the rear of the sleeve. The forward portion of thesleeve has its outer surface also tapered toward the forward end and has two parallel and opposed plane faces 26 and 27, to provide bearingsurfaces for a tool for turning the sleeve. The detachable point 22 of the firing pin is adapted to be contained with a tight fit within the tapering opening 25 .of the sleeve, it being made similarly tapered for this purpose.

In assembling the parts the firing pin point 22 is inserted into the tapering chamber 25 from the rear thereof and the sleeve 23 is then screwed into the recess 24 in the body portion of the firing pin. The diameter of the extreme rear portion of the firing pin point is slightly greater than the diameter of the rear end of the tapered opening 25 in the sleeve, so that the rear end of the firing pin point projects from the sleeve at all times. This projecting portion bears against the end wall 29 of the recess 24 so that when the sleeve 23 is tightly screwed into the body portion of the firing pin the firing pin point will be firmly seated on the wall or abutment 29. The firing pin point 22 is of such length that its tip projects beyond the forward end of the sleeve for a short distance in order that it may contact with and explode the primer of the shell. It is desirable that the firing pin point be hardened and tempered and the present construction affords a simple and inexpensive means for attaining this result, inasmuch as the point and the body of the firing pin are easily separable.

When the point of the pin becomes broken or damaged, it is necessary only to withdraw the firing lock case 15, which is readily detachable from the remaining portion of the breech mechanism, and then to unscrew the sleeve 23 from the body portion 16 of the firing pin and drive the firing pin point rearwardly from the sleeve. A new point may then be quickly inserted, the sleeve screwed into place and tightened to firmly clamp the firing pin point between the body of the firing pin and the sleeve, and the firing lock case 15 again inserted in the breech. The entire operation can be performed 7 quickly,which is of great irnportance in the operation of Ordnance.

V vHaving thus'described the invention, what V iscl'aimed and desired to be'secured by Let "ters Patent is: j I 1. A firing pin for ordnance comprising a body, a tapering pin point in axialaline- I merit with the'bo'dy and having its larger end abuttingthe forward end of the body and a sleeve having a tapering opening to o-re'ceivethe p oint, saidv sleeve being secured to the body, and said pinpoint projecting beyond-the sleev'eiat both endsthereof'.

2. A firing pin for ordnance comprising a cylindrical body, a tapering pin point in axial alinementwlth the body, and having i Jits larger endabutting the forward end of V the body and a sleeve fitting over the point and secured to thebody by a threaded joint,

said pin point normally projecting from the sleeve at both ends thereof.

3. In a :fir-ing pin for ordnance, the com- ;bi nation1ofi a body having a threaded socket in its forward endya sleeve; having 'an'axial opening therein threaded into said socket, and'a firing pin point in-said opening and projecting beyond the'forward end of said 4 1 sleeve, saidLfiring pin point being secured in V l' said opening 1..

by the cooperation of said body and said sleeve. r a 7 V 4." In a firing pinxfor ordnance, the com bination .of a body portion. having: a

' threaded socket in its forward end, an exter- Copies of: this patent may be obtained for socket and having a longitudinal tapered opening therethrough with itsgreatest diameter at thelrear end, and a correspond= ingly taperedfijring pin point adapted to fit said tapered'opening and to project beyond the forward end'bf said sleeve, said firing 'pin point being secured in said opening by the cooperation of said body and'said sleeve. 7

'5. in a firing pin for ordnance, the combination of a body, a sleeve detachably secured to the forwardend of said body and having a tapered opening'extending longi tudinally therethrough, and a tapered firing pin pointa'dapted to fit said opening and to '7 projectfrom both ends of said sleeve, the

larger'end-of the pin being of greater diameter than-the larger end of'tlie opening and said firing pin point being held within said opening by the cooperation of said bodyand said detachable sleeve. 7

6, Ina firing pin for ordnance, the comlbination of V a body portion having a threaded socket in its forward end, a tapered firing pin point arrangedcentrally in said 7 V nally threaded sleeve threaded into said a socket with its'larger end abutting against the'ir'ear' wall thereof, and an externally threaded sleeve having a correspondingly {tapered 7' ;opening 7 extending longitudinally therethrough to receive said firing pin point and adapted to be screwed into said socket ,to clamp said firing pin point against the body.

r In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' JOH N 'LUND.

five cents each, by addressing'the *Gommilsaionenet liatents,

Washington, .D. 0. 

